No question of “attacking” the monopoly of the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ) as proposed by militants of his own party, slice the Minister of Finance, Eric Girard.
The minister closed the door to a possible privatization of the state-owned company, in a parliamentary committee on Wednesday. Dividends from the SAQ make it possible to finance public services, he defends.
“We have no intention of attacking or modifying the SAQ’s monopoly, which brings in $1.4 billion in dividends. It goes up to 2.2 billion if you include taxes. And then we could go up to 2.6 billion if we count federal taxes. »
“It pays for hospitals, then schools and it allows the government to assume its state missions,” he adds.
Mr. Girard’s statement comes as activists from the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) will present a proposal on the end of the state monopoly of the SAQ, during the congress of François Legault’s party on May 13 and 14.
In the past, Mr. Legault had argued in favor of the end of the monopoly. However, he did not present this commitment during the 2018 election campaign and definitively ruled out this idea six months after taking power.
Mr. Girard does not take offense that militants of his party have a different opinion. “It is very healthy that in political parties, there are debates in congresses. After all, we are a liberal democracy: people have the right to express themselves and to have opinions. »
The PCQ for more competition
The Conservative leader, Éric Duhaime, supports the CAQ activists who tabled the proposal. “Producers of alcoholic beverages in Quebec have far too many barriers at all levels of the SAQ and consumers, customers, pay far too much, much more for their alcohol than elsewhere on the continent,” he laments. in interview.
The idea is not to abolish or privatize the SAQ, nuance Mr. Duhaime, but to allow competition. This competition would reduce the administrative burden for businesses wishing to sell alcohol and would increase the variety of products offered, he said.
Regarding the Quebec Cannabis Society (SQDC), Conservative Party activists have not yet taken a position on its monopoly, replies Mr. Duhaime.
For his part, Québec solidaire spokesperson for finance, Haroun Bouazzi, came to the defense of the SAQ’s monopoly in a “declaration of love” made in parliamentary committee.
He considers that the experiences of market liberalization in other Canadian provinces, notably in Alberta or British Columbia, are counter-examples to be avoided. “The conclusions are quite clear. A Crown corporation means the best offers, the best prices and the best advice. We are very happy with this system. »